I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
Sorry to hear your cancer is back, I am sure you will get through it again.. I have not been in touch as I have been in & out of Hospital with infections. I also have not been good from the chemo's as each of them I have had chills and just feeling awful. When I went in the first time it was for 8 days isolation as my Neuts were down to 0.5 so had to cancel next chemo which should have been on the 25th May but only had it on the 15th June. That was my 3rd one and my next is 6th July . They have decided to do all 6 and the operation which I think is September.
My scan is tomor and is the 2nd one since April. It was 6cm then and they want it to be 1cm before going in.
I will keep you posted this time hopefully and will let you know how small its shrunk....:blush: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Not sure if you can read what I posted to Jackie but I will send you this anyway. I am interested to know how you noticed that something wasn't right. I thought mine was my bowel as I couldn't stop going to the loo and even with taking Laporamide I was still going. It was then that the bowel specialist found the lump, but he knew straight away it was in the ovarie. It was pushing up against the bowel so if it had gone the other way it would have gone into the pelvis.
I find that about 7 days after chemo I feel bad, with various things like chills and aching joints, but because my temperature never goes up I never know when I have an infection. I would say to you that if you feel unwell then ring the chemo nurses and go and get it checked as I left mine so long that my white cell cout was to low. I also had an injection of Neulasta on my last cycle to keep them up but still ended up last week going in for 3 days with dehydration. I think the tumour has moved near the bladder as up until 2 days ago I could not stop going for a wee, so I was afraid to drink to much water.
Its all ups and downs and when your up your great but the feeling when unwell is not nice & you see people going about there everday things and just want to be like them. I now stay way from shops and try not to go near people, its hard but I think its worth it as being in Hospital is not great & ours is an hour & 15 min drive away so for my partner to come everday is hard going.
I hope this helps you and I am here if you need a chat......
Nice to hear from you again, its sounds like your having a horrid time, I was admitted twice for 7 days each time and that was bad enough! 'Fortunately' for me it was with the bood clots which don't leave you feeling ill (painful though!). Unlike you my neutrophils never dropped! I even had chemo with a cold with no ill effects lol guess we're all diffferent.
You sure your need to pee ain't a water infection? only ask as my only symptom was a need to pee but only when I bent down it wasn't constant. Better get it checked out cos if infection you NEED to drink (esp in this heat wave!)
Keep in touch and please keep your fingers crossed for me on the 16th!
Will be thinking of you on the 13th I'm sure you'll be fine. Colostomy's are never nice as Tonysong will testify! glad you avoided it, only, what, 3-4 months to go we can handel it.
Thanks for reply, I will have everything crossed for you not just for the 16th but all the time.
They did check for water infection, they are brilliant at the Hospital I go to in Aberystwyth, they know you by name so you feel your not just another number. The slightest thing and they are testing you. I have had 2 chest X-rays because of a pain I keep getting in my back and they do blood cultures when I get an infection. I am off for scan today so up early but I can't have a cup of tea or toast but at least I will know soon on the size of this thing.
I couldn't believe when I read that it had come back on you. How many chemo's are you having this time ? Its strange how everyone is different as most people I talk to sail through it but unfortunatly I am the unlucky one, still I know it passes....
It's lovely to hear from you. My problem started with a pain in my left side and back in December last year, I was given brufen for the pain. The pain eventually moved to the front around my abdomen. I also had very bad diarrhoea which lasted for about eight weeks with lots of bleeding from my bowel which I thought was cancer, but turned out to be very bad haemorrhoids. After a few more weeks my abdomen began to fill with fluid and I looked about six months pregnant. I had an ultra sound and ct scan and that is when they found the tumour on my ovary.. I had a hysterectomy and was told that it was a borderline tumour and that I didn't need any further treatment. After ten weeks my abdomen filled with fluid again and the docs thought that there was 'something going on'. They had removed the omentum but had to leave a small amount behind because they said they couldn't remove it all, and they think that is where the problem is coming from. I have now got to have 6 treatments of chemo (carboplatin/taxol) at three weekly intervals. I had a bad reaction to the taxol and now have to see the docs to see if I can have another try but at a smaller dose or maybe it to be given over a longer time. Are you on the same regime? I am sorry you havn't been feeling well, I hope you are feeling well now. Thank you for your email, it really helps to have someone to talk.
Yes I to am on that one, I am lucky as I had no reaction to it (so far ) anyway.
Its funny how the Drs seem to have different regimes to put you on. At first I was only having the 3 chemo then the operation & then the 3 more, but then decided on 5 and one after but now all 6 then op then 2 to mop up as they say....
It was also Dec when I started with mine but I had no stomach swelling up so was convinced it was the bowel. I was so shocked when they said ovarie. I am curious to see what size it has shrunk to and I had my scan today so they will probably tell me next Tuesday when I have my chemo..My Drs are great and you feel so at ease with them. I had to drink the iodine drink this morning (2 pints ) of it, and it tasted disgusting. I have had it before the chemo but it didn't taste that bad so it must be the chemo that makes it worse.
I do hope your chemo goes well for you and if you want to talk to me then come on here and I will send you my phone number for a chat. I know you will have all your freinds and family around you but unless you have gone through it then they dont understand.
You sound better! Hope the scan shows its shrunk to a tiny little thing .
Believe it or not I'm not sure how many chemo's I'm due to have! it gets very confusing when your discussing it with the Dr, we started off saying I was over 6 months post chemo so could have the Carbo/Tax and then went on to discuss possibility of clotting off again. Decided to live with the risk and then he asked about neuropathy, said I still had it in left foot but was managable as had got used to it, next thing I know he's decided to go for Carbo/Doxil as less neuropathic side effects! Did ask him if it would cut down my options for next time but didn't think to ask about the schedule and reading up on it it says every 4 weeks (tax/carbo was 3). Have only got one appointment so will have to wait and see lol. Can't seem to shake the feeling that its not going to work or I'm going to clot off again and it will all have to stop (I nearly ended up with my leg amputated the first time so there is a limit to how many times they will risk it). Apart from this feeling I'm determined to have a little fun before the 16th! I had got back to full time work but was struggling and had no energy left for anything else so I've gone off sick and applied for ill health retirement (recommended by Onc Dr). This week my mate is on holiday so we are doing the local sites round Norfolk and there is loads of them! I struggle because the walking and leg and arm strength is not good but with determination I can get there! next week I have my sister coming over so it will be a week of shopping, that takes me up to the 14th so 1 days rest then off we go on that road again .
This is the only threat for ovarian cnacer and the other sites do not seem to get frequent visitors or its great that there are 3 of us to support each other.
Keep well this time, its to hot to get any more infections!
Gosh you have and are still going through the mill, I can't believe your still getting on with things. I would probably have sat in a corner crying and feeling sorry for myself by now. Good on you...
I think your right to be on long term sick as its going to take it out of you and you will need all the rest you can get. I really take my hat off to you ( or scarf ha ha ) your an amazing lady. I like the fact we can chat the 3 of us and we may get more to join our little goup... Its a big help as I said to kathym that it doesn't matter how many friends you have or family but unless you have gone through then they don't understand how you feel when your not having a good day.. Its my 54th Birthday tomor and I am hoping to be around for many more of them as I hope you and kathym are as well.
Take Care and as soon as I get my scan results I will let you know.
Thank you for the email. When you say it is only 3-4 months to go it makes it sound so much easier, if you think of it as 5 more sessions it seems ages. I hope you enjoy your walks and shopping before your chemo, there the things I love too. I will also be thinking of you on the 16th, so hope all goes well. It is good that there are three of us (also REDLIZZIE) with similar problems and it really does help to have someone to talk to.
